Of wagons



J. HIBBS.

Running-Gear.

No. 20,795. I Patented July 6, 1858.

AM.PHDTOLITHO. C0.N.Y.(0SBDRNE'S PROCESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. HIBBS, OF TULLYTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RUNNING-GEAR 0F WAGONS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,795, dated July 6, 1858.

T 0 all whom 'it may concern.

Be it known that I, JONATHAN HIBBS, of Tullytown, county of Bucks, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Running- Gear of Vagons, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference be ing made to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, in which Figure I is a side view or elevation; Fig. II is a view as seen from beneath; Fig. III exhibits a modification, and similar letters indicate similar parts throughout.

My invention is an improvement in that class of vehicles which require to have both the axles capable of turning on king-bolts or center-pins, in order that thereby the vehicle itself may be turned in a curve of shorter radius than it could be when the hind axle is fixed. Farm wagons, hose carriages, trucks for heavy work in cities, &c., have often been made to turn in this way by having the end of one axle connected by means of a strong rod diagonally to the opposite end of the other .axle, the rod being afiixed to each by bolts which allow of motion, but this is operative only to a limited extent.

My method causes the hind axle to follow exactly the turning of the fore axle, as required, in the reverse direction, and it is also applicable to wagons constructed to have the distance between the axles adjustable, as for carrying timber. The manner in which I accomplish this is by applying to each axle a curved or segment rack, turned inward toward each other, and so geared together by a pinion of great comparative length (or rather breadth) of teeth, which is fastened beneath the perch, that, as the front axle is at any time turned, its rack will cause the pinion to revolve and thus transmit the same motion to the rack of the hind axle.

The construction is as follows: In the annexed drawings the running parts are represented of a wagon which has the position of its hind axle movable along the perch. Both the axles are connected to any suitable framing as (a a).

At (6) is the front axle, held to the bolster by the king-bolt (b), and at (0) is the hind axle, held in like manner by the bolt (0').

At (cl) is a curved or segment rack, the are being struck from (b) as its center; this may be fastened in any suitable manner to the axle, as by the pieces (d) which said pieces project through and form the hounds for attaching the pole. At (6) is represented a similar rack, curved in the opposite direction and attached to the hind axle by pieces (6) in like manner. The teeth are shown projecting downward, while the backs of both racks play close to the under-side of the perch crossing it as seen in Figs. I and II. These two racks are then coupled together by the pinon seen at This pinion has, as shown, teeth of great breadth, and as above remarked it is held firmly to the perch by its journals at each end passing into boxes attached to the former as at (y) The perch has at one end the usual holes (2") for shifting the place of the hind axle, by changing the bolt (0) into any of said holes.

It will now be seen how this changing can be effected and yet preserve the ability to operate both axles on their king-bolts in turning, for if the axle (c) be removed so that its bolt shall pass through the hole at (2") the rack (6) will be moved along the pinion from the point 7') to about that at (j), consequently it still remains in gear with the front axle and the turning of the two will go on as before.

Instead of a pinion with teeth of such great breadth a shaft may be substituted having two pinions upon it, one fixed to operate in the rack on the front axle, and another which may be shifted along the said shaft, such a contrivance being seen in Fig. III wherein (0) is the shaft, (0) the fixed arm and (0) the shifting pinion to follow along to the place of the rack (e).

I claim The method herein described of operat ing both the axles of a wagon in turning curves, viz., by means of the curved rack afiixed to each axle, in combination with the connecting pinion, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JONATHAN HIBBS.

' In presence of J. P. PIRSSON, S. H. MAYNARD. 

